Locking means for expansible loose-leaf binders



July 25, 1950 LOCKING E. HAZEL, JR 2,516,382

MEANS FOR EXPANSIBLE LOOSE-LEAF BINDERS Filed July. 1a, 1948 $5 30 ilINVENTOR. I? irnesf Haze/ Jr. 5 I

BY a

A T TOR NE Fatented July 25, 1950 LOCKING MEANS FOR EXPANSELE LOOSE-LEAFBINDERS Ernest Hazel, Jrl, St. Louis, Mo. Application July 16, 1948,Serial No. 39,065

This invention relates to binders and particularly those of the looseleaf type provided with a pair of operable back panels shiftable towardand away from each other for receiving various numbers of loose leaves,the'primary object being to provide a simple, inexpensive'and highlyeflicient locking means for holding the panels against outward movementwhen the leaves are disposed therebetween.

The most important object of this invention is to provide a lockingmeans for expansible loose leaf binders having a tubular member joinedto each of the panels respectively and disposed in relative telescopingrelationship, said members being provided with interengageable structuretherein for holding the same against movement in one direction.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pair of relativelytelescoped members having manually operable locking means disposedtherein for releasably holding the same against sepae ration, saidtubular members being adaptable for use with loose leaf binders as aboveset forth; for use as mounting posts for the paper itself, if desired;or usable separately without utilizing the above-mentioned panels formounting and holding a sheaf of perforated paper.

Another important object of this invention is the provision of locking.means for loose, leaf binders of aforementioned character wherein one ofthe tubular members has a pair of opposed swingable dogs mounted thereinand projectable from 2 Claims. (01. 129-13) said one member into bitingengagement with the other members that surround the dogs.

Other objects of this invention relate to the manner of normallyreleasing said locking dogs or posts; the way in which the swingabledogs are yieldably held in wedging relationship with respect to the twotubular members and to many other minor details of construction, all ofwhich will be made clear during the course of the followingspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an end elevational view of an expansible loose leaf bindershowing one modification of locking means forming the subject matter ofthis invention, parts being broken away to reveal details ofconstruction.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view through thelocking means, per se, taken on line IIII of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse cross sectional view taken on lineIIIIII of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view similar to that 2 mounting for thereleasable dogs of the locking means; and,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary cross sectional view similar to that shown inFig. 2, showing another modification of the push-button portion of thelocking means.

- The locking means about to be described has been designed for use withmany different types of conventional loose leaf binders and, therefore,the binder shown in the drawing is for illustrative purposes only.

. This binder is broadly designated by the numeral l0 and constitutes apair of back panels l2 and I4. These panels I2 and M are each normallyL-shaped. The shorter legs l6 and [8, re-- spectively, thereof beingrelatively overlapping as clearly indicated in Fig. 1. Lines of weakness2!! in both panels [2 and I4 present hinges for permitting swinging ofthe panels l2 and I4 to and from an open position in the usual manner.That portion of the panels l2 and I4 extending from hinge lines 20 tothe legs l6 and/or [8 themselves is formed from relatively rigidmaterial. Such material is indicated in Fig. 2 by the numeral 22 andlayers of flexible material that cover the entire panels l2 and M aredesignated by the numeral 24.

' The locking means, per se, forming the subject matter of Figs. 1 to 3,inclusive, of this invention is broadly designated by the numeral 26 andincludes a pair of tubular members 28 and 30 having differing diameters.The tubular member 30, which is of the larger diameter, is secureddirectly to the panel M by passing through an opening 32 formed therein.An out-turned shoulder 34 formed in the tubular member 30, spacedinwardly from one end thereof, rests against the innermost face of thepanel l4 and an out-turned flange 36 bearin against the outermost faceof panel l4 holds this member rigidly in place.

The tubular member 28 is telescoped within the tubular member 30 bypassing through an opening 38 formed in the uppermost end of member 30,opposite to the flange 36 thereof. The diameter of this opening 38 issubstantially the same as the outside diameter of member 28, presentinga relatively tight sliding fit between member 28 and member 30.

Consequently, the outermost face of the smaller member 28 is spaced fromthe inner walls of the tubular member 3|].

Member 28 has an out-turned rib 40 formed adjacent the uppermost edgethereof and spaced from such end that bears against the innermostillustrated in Fig. 3, showing another form of 5. face of panel l2. Thissaid end of member 28 passes through an opening 42 formed in the panelI2, and an out-turned flange 44 overlaps the outermost face of panel I2for rigidly holding member 28 secured to panel 12.

A pair of opposed slots 46 formed in the member 28 adjacent theinnermost end thereof have their longitudinal axes substantiallyparallel with longitudinal axis of member 28.

The dogs 48 extend through each of the slots 46, respectively, towardthe innermost face of member 30. One of these dogs 48 (Fig. 3) isbifurcated as at 50 for receiving the other dog 48; Both of the dogs 48are disposed within thebifurcated end 52 of an elongated rod'541 Thepivot pin 58 passing through the bifurcated end 52 of rod 54 and throughboth of dogs 48 swingably mounts these dogs 48 on the lowermost end ofrod 54.

Rod 54 is disposed coaxially within the' member 28 and has secured inthe uppermost end thereof a button 58 by means of a: pin or. thelike 60.This button 53 is preferably circular in cross sectional contour and hasan out-turned flange 62 formed thereon that abuts against an inturnedflange 54- formed at the uppermost end of member 28.

A spring 66 coiled about rod 54 bears at its uppermost enddirectlyagainst the innermost face of button 58; Inturned projections 68 formedin the member 28 inwardly from theslots 46 thereof receive the lowermostend of spring 6.6.- Eachof dogs 48 has a flat portion i formed adjacentto the outermost freeends thereof. that is substantially parallel: tothe transverse axes of members 28 and 3b, presenting a relatively sharpoutermost edge onboth dogs 48 capable of biting into theinnermost-faceof member 351 It is clear from the foregoing that thespring 55 yieldably holds the rod 54 in the uppermost end ofitsreciprocal path of travel where the flange 62 of button 58' bearsagainst the inturned flange 64-. When rod '54 and button 58 are in suchposition, the dogs 48 will be projected through the slots 46 to aposition Where they tightly engage the number St. Any tendency of thepanels" IZand" I4 tomove outwardly awa from each other will be retarded,and, in fact, such outward movement will operate to wedge the post ordogs 48 more tightly against the member 36. This pair of opposed dogs 48operates as a wedge between the member 28" and 38; since their combinedaction holds the rod 54 centered within the member 28 and the lattercannot shift outwardly because of slots 4'5 surrounded by respectivebody 48'.

When it isdesired to release the locking means, thereby permittin themovement of the panels I2 and I4 apart to a position where the same areentirely separated, the operator merely presses inwardly upon the button58 againstthe action of the coil spring 68 swinging the dogs 48 on thepivot pin 56 and thereby moving the same out of biting engagement withthe member 30.

Any number of these locking assemblies 26 may be utilized, but it iscontemplated that only one is necessary for each binder I0. I

As is clear in Fig, 1, the locking assembly 26 is disposed back of apack of loose leaves. 12, disposed between the panels I2 and I4. Suchleaves I2 are provided with the usual perforations l4 forv receivingconnecting posts 16 and I8. As shown these posts I5 and l8. arerelatively tale. scoped, permitting; expansion of the binder III forreceiving a selected number of'leaves l2;

Obviously, any of the well-known structures may be used for holding theleaves of paper 12 in place other than that illustrated in Fig. 1.

It is, also, clear that the locking assembly 26 permits such expansionof the binder I0 irrespective of the particular type of hOldil'lg meansfor the leaves of paper themselves.

Fig. 4 of the drawing shows another way of mounting and? forming theswingable locking dogs of the assembly. This form will operate equallyas well as that illustrated in Fig, 3, but it is simpler and lessexpensive to manufacture. The dogslw and IE2 shown in Fig. 4 areidentical and; rather than one of these dogs being bifurcated, both aremounted directly upon a rod I84, one end of which at least is polygonalin cross section. Dogs I416 and I02 are disposed in opposed relationshipwith respect to the rod I04 and joined thereto by a common pivot pinI06.

Fig. 5 of the drawing shows another way of mounting: a pushi-button'vfor actuating the rod supportingeitherdogs 48 or dogs Hiltand Hi2, asthe: case may be. The push-button. in Fig. 5 is designated by thenumeral200;.is circular in cross section andelongated; The inside diameter of apostZ'ilZ, which corresponds tothe-member 28 of Fig. 2-,. is.substantially the same as outside diameterofpush-button; 250,, thelatter being freely telescoped within the tubular post 202.

Post282 is provided with, a continuous annular outi-turnedrib. 204: thatcorresponds. with rib or shoulder as in Fig. 2 and, also,. has aninturned flange 286' spaced from the out-turned rib or flange 204.Push-button 200 is. provided with an annulangroove 288- intermediate theends thereof .for'receiving: the-inturned flange.- 296: ofmemher 202.

Push-button is secured at its. lowermost end directly to one. end of. avrod 2 I0: corresponding to rod: 54 of the modification shown in Fig; 2of the-drawing It: is clear that the widthzof the annular groove2li8rin. push-button 2G0 determines the: extent of movement of push-button23!, and of the rod 2h). A very" small amount of such. movement isnecessary to release the. dogs 48- or I and i102 withmespect to theoutermost tubular member 80'.

While the above description. of the various forms of the lockingassembly has pointed out the use of 'such assembly with a. binder suchas at Ill, it-is contemplated. that the members 28 and -39- may well beused. to support the sheaf of loose leaf: papers: 1.2; in lieu. ofthetelescoping posts I5 and I8; In other: words, the outside diameterof'thel'arger post 36 might well be. less than thediameter of theperforations I4 in the leaves'of' paper t2 and; no other meansforholding paper I2wi'thinthe binder HI will beneeded.

It is, also, tobe understood that the locking assembly might well beused without the utiliza tion of binder ill for holding the leaves ofpaper 12, if desired. In other words, if the outside diameter of thetubular member BI! is made sufficient to receive the perforations i. thepaper l2, then such paper t2 might well be threaded upon the member 3%and shoulder 34, or like means, thereof will serve for limiting themove.- ment of such ream ofpaper 12- beyond one endof the: assembly'.-By; the same. token, the. outturnert flange 40", or. similar means, asat. 284 in Fig. 5 of the drawing,.will hold: the opposite. faces of the.ream of paper 12' against movement from the assembly Manifestly-,, manydetails: of construction may be varied and; suchchanges as fairly.comeuwithin the scope of the appended claims are contemplated hereby.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. For loose leaf binders having a pair of opposed backing panelsmovable toward and away from each other; manually releasable means forholding said panels against separation comprising a tubular member oneach panel respectively, one of the members being slidably telescoped inthe other member and having a pair of opposed openings adjacent theinnermost end thereof; a reciprocable rod in said one member having ahead extending beyond the opposite end of the one member, said headhaving an annular groove; an inwardly facing shoulder on the head;inturned ears integral with said one member between said openings andsaid opposite end thereof a spring coiled about the rod and having theends thereof bearing against said ears and said shoulder for holding therod biased in one direction; an inturned bead on the one memberextending into said groove for limiting the extent of movement of therod in either direction; and

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 809,587 Sussman Jan. 9, 19061,138,619 Betts May 11, 1915 1,985,700 Unger Dec. 25, 1934 2,383,062Johnson Aug. 21, 1945

